Eulogy of my hero - President Carter

Yesterday Jimmy Carter died.

  

It is wonderful to hear all the praises and warm words about a truly beautiful human being and his partner and wife Rosalynn.   Jimmy Carter is and will always be one of my hero's.  So while I am sad -  I am also filled with a ever giving joy to have lived in his presence. 

There are a lot of articles and words remembering President Carter's life and they do a better job of itemizing  the events, accomplishments and amazing work President Carter did during his lifetime.  Overall, the prevalent judgment by recent US historian/politicians describe President Carter as a great humanitarian but a terrible president.   I prefer to see President Carter as one of the greatest Presidents for our humanity.  And one that shows how the America culture turned its back on the ideals of a noble humanity. 

Few today remember the times of President Carter's presidency (1976) and how America rejected his reelection to feed the culture of national superiority by electing Reagan. A rejection of the common good for the power of the individual. 

I remember those days in my early 20's.  In the beginning Carter had come after the Nixon/Ford administration at a time of crisis in faith and trust in leadership.   The previous administration had limped out after the Watergate trials; had limped out after the closing of the Vietnam war, and had struggled with new economic and energy issues in a new world --a new world of 'globalization'.  The sounding shots in the struggles of global regulations being codified in the public policies of governments. 

The industrial world was a century old and had increased global trade and connectivity across the globe.    With the post WWII creations of new global organization (NATO, United Nations, IMF, OPEC, and many more)  humanity sought to continue growth and do good as measured by increased standards of living, equity and justice.  The clearest proof of this new globalization is seen in the inter-dependence, seen in the increased dependence on OIL import for the most powerful economy in the world. 

In came President Carter,  into the American culture at a crossroads on how to face the new globalization.  Seeking to be a leader for the common humanity.   But in the end America rejected Carter's humanitarian responsibility; instead choosing to declare the individual as the cornerstone of our society and indirectly warping the Constitution from a system of government for all into a framework to declaring one's Nation superior over all others.   To the privileged few, government became the enemy; wealth and power of the individual became the central focus for the course of human events. 

Still,  above it all President Carter gave America a sense of trust and honesty.  Through the good times and the darkest times of Iran Hostage ordeal and energy transformation - President Carter spoke truth to the light.  

Faced with a dilemma between humanitarian sharing or declaring the rights of individual based on self declared superiority, President Carter spoke for our collective humanity.  Seeking  to weave a middle road based on the truth of limited natural resources and the necessity for efficient stewardship across the globe.  Politically, President Carter paid the price for speaking this truth.   But time proved President Carter correct. His insight into sharing of natural resources - recycling, renewable and eco-friendly alternative sources of energy - became our reality. 

Regardless of your views on Carter's policies and economic legacy you always knew you were dealing with a man of truth.   A modern prophet of our common humanity.  The greatest gift of President Carter's life was his legacy that our leaders could rise to the challenges of our humanity.   

Understanding this and modeling a life on God and humility first is why President Carter is my hero.